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| Maltese Ruby Tiger Moth | ||||||||||||||||
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 The Ruby Tiger Moth Phragmatobia fuliginosa
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| Phragmatobia fuliginosa melitensis O. Bang-Haas, 1927 |
The Maltese Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa ssp. melitensis) is a moth endemic to the Maltese Islands which falls under the family Arctiidae. (Note that the picture on the right shows the Ruby Tiger Moth and not the Maltese subspecies).
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General features
This moth, known as the Rubin in Maltese, can grow up to 20mm [1]. Its two forewings are dark brown in colour whilst the back wings are reddish-pink in colour. One can also see certain markings on the wings with the forewings having one spot each and the back wings having around four markings each.
The caterpillar looks rather furry, a feature common in Arctiidae caterpillars. In fact, the caterpillars are known as 'woolly bears'.
Food
The caterpillar feeds on borage Borrago officinalis (known as Fidloqqom in Maltese), and on bugloss (plants from the genus Echium e.g. Pale Bugloss Echium italicum which is known as Lsien il-Fart Abjad in Maltese) [1].
Population
The Maltese Ruby Tiger Moth, although endemic, is common throughout the Maltese Islands [1].
See also
- Endemic Maltese wildlife
- Endemism
- Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)
References
